Tonyrefail
Encyclopedia
Tonyrefail is a village and community
in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough, Wales
. It is situated 4 miles (6.4 km) north west of Llantrisant
at the head of the Ely Valley, south of the Rhondda
, being around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Trebanog
and around 2 miles (3.2 km) from Williamstown. It is also around 2.5 miles (4 km) from the village of Gilfach Goch
. Historically Tonyrefail was the site of a rural hamlet
, it evolved into an industrial village during the second half of the 19th century, when coal and steel became synonymous with the South Wales Valleys
. It now has a population of 11,035.
began that employment grew on a large scale. At its peak
Coedely Colliery employed nearly 1,800 men which not only changed the face of Tonyrefail, but also created the establishment of nearby colliery settlements such as Coedely, Thomastown and Bryngolau.
It was once a busy town serving the communities of Coedely, Trebanog
, Gilfach Goch
and Tonyrefail itself. These days though it is a quiet residential town.
occupants. One of the more notable members of the Prichard family, who would eventually die at Collenna house, was Reverend Richard Prichard, Vicar of Llandaff. His son, John Prichard
was a renowned Welsh architect who was responsible for restoration work at Llandaff Cathedral
and many other local churches.
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is situated 4 miles (6.4 km) north west of Llantrisant
Llantrisant
Llantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St...
at the head of the Ely Valley, south of the Rhondda
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
, being around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Trebanog
Trebanog
Trebanog is a village lying on the southernmost outskirts of the Rhondda Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, located off the A4233 road between Porth the unoficial capital of the Rhondda, and the town of Tonyrefail which is at the head of the Ely Valley...
and around 2 miles (3.2 km) from Williamstown. It is also around 2.5 miles (4 km) from the village of Gilfach Goch
Gilfach Goch
Gilfach Goch is a small former coal mining village in Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales, near the larger community of Tonyrefail in the Ogmore Valley....
. Historically Tonyrefail was the site of a rural hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
, it evolved into an industrial village during the second half of the 19th century, when coal and steel became synonymous with the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
. It now has a population of 11,035.
History
Early records show Tonyrefail to be a dairy farming and livestock raising area, and many early farmhouses still exist in some form today. This was in stark contrast to the nearby valleys, that were forced to adopt arable and sheep farming activities due to their hilly geography. Early industrialisation began in the late 18th century around a corn mill and woollen factory, but it wasn't until deep coal miningCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
began that employment grew on a large scale. At its peak
Mining in Wales
Mining in Wales provided a significant source of income to the economy of Wales throughout the nineteenth century and early twentieth century....
Coedely Colliery employed nearly 1,800 men which not only changed the face of Tonyrefail, but also created the establishment of nearby colliery settlements such as Coedely, Thomastown and Bryngolau.
It was once a busy town serving the communities of Coedely, Trebanog
Trebanog
Trebanog is a village lying on the southernmost outskirts of the Rhondda Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, located off the A4233 road between Porth the unoficial capital of the Rhondda, and the town of Tonyrefail which is at the head of the Ely Valley...
, Gilfach Goch
Gilfach Goch
Gilfach Goch is a small former coal mining village in Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales, near the larger community of Tonyrefail in the Ogmore Valley....
and Tonyrefail itself. These days though it is a quiet residential town.
Buildings of note
One of the most notable buildings in Tonyrefail is Collenna House, a three story mansion originally built in 1093, which overlooks the village. The house is believed to have been built by the Welsh noble, Einion ap Collwyn who after a dispute with Iestyn ab Gwrgant, married Iestyn's only daughter, Nest. The two are said to have set up home at Collenna House and it was around this time that they founded the old church of St. John. Collena House would eventually become home to the Prichard family, who trace their line back to the house's original NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
occupants. One of the more notable members of the Prichard family, who would eventually die at Collenna house, was Reverend Richard Prichard, Vicar of Llandaff. His son, John Prichard
John Prichard
John Prichard was a Welsh architect of the neo-Gothic style. John Prichard was the son of Richard Prichard a rector from Llangan, Glamorgan and was born on 6 May 1817. He established a practice in Llandaff, Cardiff where he became the diocesan architect. Between 1852 and 1863 he set up a...
was a renowned Welsh architect who was responsible for restoration work at Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
and many other local churches.